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Purpose: The Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program is a grant and loan program established by the Montana Legislature to strengthen and diversify Montana's agricultural industry through the development of new agricultural products and processes. Examples of eligible project activities involve equipment purchases, construction costs, advertising and promotion, and consultant services for engineering. The GTA program is administered by the Agriculture Development Council (Council) which is attached to the Department of Agriculture.
Grant Amount: Grants up to $50,000, loans up to $100,000. This grant is a $1 to $1 cost share.
Guidelines: Click HERE for more information.
Due:
Pre-Application opens October 10rd
Pre-Application due November 10th
Full Application due February 2nd, 2026
Business Acceleration and Marketing (BAM) Program
The Montana Department of Agriculture is excited to offer the GTA Business Acceleration and Marketing Program (BAM), to support businesses entering expansionary phases of growth and to aid in the access, development, and expansion of new markets. Funds are available now and are awarded on a quarterly basis, in the order the application is received, until funds are expended. These funds are to:
Help businesses access and develop new and existing markets.
Support businesses in overcoming market barriers
Expand businesses' digital/web offerings
Fund projects still in early expansionary phase of development
Support startup businesses in minimizing time to profitability.
Offer expanding businesses the ability to establish groundwork for capital expenditure.
Accelerate new, innovative products up to commercialization.
Award Amounts:
Grants up to $20,000 with $5,000 in equipment allowed, 50% cost-share over a one-year grant period.
GUIDELINES
APPLY
Rural Energy for America Program
Purpose: The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
Grant Amount-
Renewable Energy System Grants:
$2,500 minimum.
$1 million maximum.
Energy Efficiency Grants:
$1,500 minimum.
$500,000 maximum.
Guidelines: Click HERE for the program guidelines
Contact Grace to learn more!
Agritourism Grant Program
Purpose: The purpose of Agritourism Grants is to assist Montana’s rural and tribal agricultural businesses and communities and to promote diversification and support in Montana. Commerce's Destination MT Division will administer Agritourism Grants in accordance with these guidelines.
Grant Amount-
Up to $50,000 on a reimbursement basis.
Match is not required for Projects up to $10,000.
A 1:1 Match is required for Projects between $10,001 and $50,000 and must be met on each request for funds. Up to 25% of required Match can be In-kind.
Guidelines: Click HERE for the program guidelines
Due Oct 23rd
Montana Dept of Ag Beginning Farm & Ranch Loans
The Montana Beginning Farm/Ranch Loan Program is a tax-exempt bond program designed to assist beginning farmers and ranchers to acquire agricultural property at lower interest rates.
Applicant Eligibility:
- The beginning farmer/rancher must be at least age 18. There is no upper age limit.
- A beginning farmer/rancher must be a first-time producer regardless of the loan purpose. A first-time farmer/rancher is a person who has never had any direct or indirect ownership interest in an operation of which he/she has materially participated. An ownership interest or material participation by a spouse or minor child will be attributed to the person as well.
- The beginning farmer/rancher must have a net worth not to exceed $450,000.
- The beginning farmer/rancher must be a Montana resident at the time the bond is issued.
- The beginning farmer/rancher must have documented, to the satisfaction of the bond purchaser and the authority, sufficient training and experience in the type of farming/ranching operation for which the bond is requested.
- The agricultural land, improvements and depreciable property must be used for farming/ranching by the beginning farmer/rancher, his or her spouse, or minor children.
- The beginning farmer/rancher may not have previously owned any substantial amount of farm/ranch land. Any parcel of land is substantial farm/ranch land unless the parcel is smaller than 30 percent of the median size of a farm or ranch in the county the parcel is located.
- Beginning Farm/Ranch Loan Program funds may be used to purchase agricultural land, agricultural improvements, and depreciable agricultural property.
- Property may be purchased from relatives only through third-party lenders.
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The loan maximums under existing federal laws are:
- $558,000 for agricultural land and improvements.
- Of the possible $558,000, no more than $125,000 can be for depreciable agricultural property, of which no more than $62,500 can be for "used" property.
Learn More Here
Jane Kile Scholarship
Funding through the Jane Kile Memorial Scholarship is awarded for projects that seek to be part of the solution for a more sustainable Montana and embody the spirit, innovation, conservation, and community-focused nature of Jane Kile’s own work. We recognize this is a broad invitation and are open to your interpretations. To help you get started, here are a handful of examples that would be appropriate:
- On-farm projects to increase energy efficiency, sustainable productivity, or land health (i.e., construction of renewable charging station to help power agricultural operations or facilities; season extension using hoop houses or greenhouses, etc.)
- Investments in sustainable farming knowledge and continuing education (workshop or conference attendance, books, classes, other materials)
- Investments in agritourism offerings
- Projects aimed at building soil health (i.e., cover crops, rotational grazing plans, etc.)
- Hosting an intern at your farm or ranch
- Purchases of equipment or supplies for shared use within a community or between multiple agricultural operations
- Establishing, growing, or promoting a community local foods market
- Bringing in a speaker to present to your community
This annual scholarship is open to Montana residents or community organizations who are “active stewards of Montana lands,” which can be through an agricultural operation or a community food system endeavor.
Scholarship amount: $1,200
Criteria by which submissions will be evaluated:
- Fills a gap or meets a need
- Sustainability/long-term impact
- Creative/novel proposal
- Leverage of resources and talents
- Quality of expected outcomes.
Applications are due October 15, 2025.
Learn More Here
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